Trolley-catcher



No. 6|9,2I3. Patented Feb. 7, |899. C. H. UCUMPAUGH.

TBULLEY CATCI'IER.

[Application tiled Nov. 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Shed 2.

jme/whom Campani/'L UNT ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK.

TROLLEY-CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 619,213, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed. November 26, 1897. Serial No. 659,758. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH, a residentof Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley Catchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description -of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to trolley catchers or controllers, and has for its object to improve the construction of the spring-drum, drumcase, and connected parts.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a section on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isasection on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Numeral 1 indicates the dasher of a car, and 2 is a spring-drum frame, hood, or case, having bracket-flanges 3. 4 denotes keepers fixed to the dasher or end of the car to receive the lug 5 and spring-catch 6, respectively, of the drum-frame. By these devices the frame is detachably held against the dasher or like part of a car.

The drum case or frame 2 is cast with an open bottom 2 and with straight sides 2l to facilitate its withdrawal from the sand molds in course of manufacture. It has an opening at 2"' to provide for the manipulation of a strap 7 for rotating a spring-drum 8 and also for releasing a dog 9, as will be explained. This opening may be covered with a slide 10, though this is not essential. The frame-securing flanges or brackets 3 are disposed in a plane parallel with the opposite side 2X and in such relation thereto and to the other sides as to permit their ready withdrawal from sand molds in course of manufacture. They extend below the frame in one direction and in the opposite direction reach about to the level of the axis of the spring-drum, as shown in Fig. 2. They can be connected to the dasher or other part near its top and so as to leave the opening 2" unobstructed, and their wide bearing on the vertical wall to which theymay be connected aids in securely supporting the drum-frame. Heretofore brackets or frame-securing flanges have been connected to the frame adjacent its lower opening and in such plane as to preclude the frame being drawn from sand in one piece after casting. It is characteristic of the im. proved bracket that it is situated at the side of the frame adjacent the strap-opening, but below it, so as to hold the frame above the wall to which it is secured and not interfere withthe uses of said opening. The opening is made oblong in vertical direction to provide ample space for manipulating the strap without affecting the spring -drum -holding dog.

11 and 12 denote two plates connected by a cylindrical ange 13, formed, preferably, on one of them. These plates so connected constitute a spring-drum.

14 denotes the drum-spindle fixed in the drum inclosing frame.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the plate 11 is recessed at 11 to receive the circular flange 13, fixed to the part 12 of the drum. The joint between these two plates is made water-tight, as by soldering, it being one of the objects of the improvement to exclude water and dust to prevent the rusting and clogging of the spring, which has been found to be a serious detriment in devices of the same general character. It is not essential that the joint between the two plates 11 and 12 be situated in or near the plate 11 or that it be of the rectangular form shown. It is onlynecessary to connect the plates 11 and 12 by a part 13 or the like in a tight manner, said part 13 being adapted to receive the strap, as indicated. Though a strap is shown, the use of a cord, rope, chain, or wire is not excluded. The inner end of the strap is fixed to the exterior of the flange or part 13, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, where 16 indicates a stud for the purpose. This stud is conveniently formed or cast on a thickened part of the flange and may extend to and be soldered or otherwise secured to the plate 11. The strapsecuring stud is provided on the exterior of Vthe drum to avoid the use of slots, such as heretofore cut through the drumwall and found liable to admit rain and dust.

17 indicates two springs, each secured to the interior of the drum by means of a concealed slot 18, adapted to receive the suitl'OO ably-shaped end -17 of a spring. The opposite ends are secured in like manner. yBy this construction the spring can be readily either fixed in position or detached without the use of 4any separate or movable fastening device. The strap 7 can be used to rotate the drum and wind the springs and when released will be retracted by the springs as it unwinds.

2l denotes a washer which may be loose on the spindle. It serves as a partition between the springs and prevents their interference.

22 indicates notches of any desired number situated in the periphery of` plates 1l and 12 and adapted to receive the two teeth of dog'9, pivoted at 23 and urged to its work by a spring 24. Y This dog is preferably pivoted at one side the vertical plane passing through the center of the drum and frame, and its head, which carries two rack-engaging teeth, is extended a short distance tothe other side of the plane and is made large and heavy to fall promptly by gravity and has two teeth 25, connected by a rod 26, each tooth being arranged to engage a notch 22 in the contiguous end plate of the drum. Said notches or ratchet-teeth are situated in the thickened periphery 11' and ll2 of the spring-drum and adjacent their outer surface.

The peripheral parts of plates l1 and l2 are made thick to provide for suitable notches and to control the space between them to suitable dimensions for the springstrap. The plates 1l and 12 are made large also to provide ample'bearin gon the-frame, whereby they accurately guide the drum and its connected movable devices.l The rear side of the notches is sloped backwardly to permit the forward movement of the drum when rotated by the strap, as when the latter is pulled in the direction indicated by the dotted line in Fig. l. When the strap is pulled vertically or in the direction indicated by full lines, the dog is lifted and the drum released. It is characteristic of this part of the improvement that the dog and strap have :no connection and that the strap, though always on one side of and in situation to lift the dog 9 if the trolley-pole jumpsits wire, is yet in situation to control the spring, either to wind it or to release the dog and allow the spring to unwind at the will of the operator.

27 denotes a handle fixed to lthe frame or case, and 28 is an offset inv the case-wall to provide space for the dog. The offset 28 terminates back of the outer end of the dog, so that while the strap is free to bear directly on the dog between itstwo teeth it is fended o from the frame, so as not to be cut or worn thereby. That part of the dog situated between its teeth is rounded and has greater thickness than the frame edge and is not liable to cut or fray the strap orrope. The strap-slot in the frame is extended back into the oset and in the other direction extends to about the level of the drum -axis and through about one-fourth of a circle, whereby great freedom in manipulating the strap is provided for.

It may be noted that the drum-retaining dog is normally held in engagement with the drum periphery by gravityand by a spring, if desired, and that the strap can be manipulated either to wind the spring-coil without the strap raising the dog or to raise it and permit the coil to unwind and thereby wind the strap. If the trolley jumps the wire, the strap is drawn tight and lifts the dog. This permits the drum-springs to unwind and draw down the strap and pole below the wire and its guy-ropes. By this means, in connection with the usual trolleyfpole-connecting rope, the trolley-pole can be brought below the line-wire and suitably held below to permit engagement of the trolley-wheel with said wire. The strap may be connected to a rope or the like fixed to or near the upper end of the pole, or the strap or cord 7 may be made long enough without a separate intermediate connection.

Though two drum-springs are preferred,

Aadapted to stop thedog when the latter is lifted, substantially as described.

2. A trolley-controller comprising an inclosing frame having an offset 28, a spring-containing drum provided with a rack, a dog inpendently supportedf iin the offset, a spring, and a strap adaptedto directly lift the dog, said offset being. 'situated at the top of the frame at the oppositeside thereof with respect to the strap and out of its path and adapted to stop the .dog when the latter is lifted, and a sliding shield 10, substantially as described. 1

3. A trolley-controller comprising a springcontaining drum having end plates joined by a flange integral with one of said ends, two springs situated around an arbor within the flange and each connected to the drum and frame and a partition loosely held in the drum between the springs, substantially as described.

4. A trolley-controller consisting of a frame TOO IOS

IIO,

open bottom for the free discharge of eXtra l specification in the presence of two subscribneous matter and having integral brackets ing Witnesses. arranged edgewise toward the open bottom in planes lengthwise the plates whereby it is 5 adapted when cast to be drawn from the sand- Vitnesses:

mold, substantially as described. E. C. HEMPEL,

In testimony whereof I have signed this C. HERBERT CLARK.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH. 

